Kitsissunnguit - Grønne Ejland

Birds, nature and cultural history

Kitsissunnguit in Disko Bay is one of Greenland's most important bird areas and, with its many different habitats, including wetlands, and abundant bird life, it constitutes a unique nature location in Greenland. Nowhere else in the country will you find so many different breeding bird species. One bird species in particular is characteristic of the archipelago: the Arctic Tern. The species has its main breeding grounds here in Greenland and the colony on Kitsissunnguit is among the largest in the world.

The islands are protected, but ...

The archipelago is now a protected area with limited access during the birds' breeding season. The protection combines biological considerations and local interests such as fishing and access to ancient monuments. The protection is of a modern type which takes account of the birds while allowing both locals and tourists to use the flat green islands in Disko Bay.

Islands with global importance

The islands are also unique in an international context. The area is designated a "wetland of international importance" - a so-called Ramsar site, partly because the islands' Arctic Tern population is so large that the area is important for the global population.

The website is part of the project 'Local implementation of the Ramsar Convention', funded by the Ministry of the Environment's fund 'Danish Cooperation for the Environment in the Arctic' (Dancea).

The project's other components include a flyer, a leaflet and an exhibition at Aasiaat Local Museum in 2009, when high school students from Avannaani Ilinniarnertuunngorniarfik (North Greenland's Upper Secondary School) produced an exhibition on Kitsissunnguit's natural history, cultural history and natural resources.